Stopping the performance of the play “Zein Al-Zaman” in Kuwait. What is the reason?

Representatives of the Kuwaiti Ministry of Information announced a decision to stop anyone participating in artistic and theatrical works filmed and shown in Kuwait from participating in artistic and theatrical works that harm Kuwaiti society.

On March 16, the Ministry of Information announced that it had begun to take measures, although it did not announce them publicly, against what it called “Ramadan series that offend Kuwaiti society,” following a campaign of criticism against the series “One Wife is Not Enough,” which included insults against the state. Kuwaiti culture, or insulting the morals of Kuwaiti society, stressing its complete rejection of artistic productions.

Canceling the performance of the play “In the Zein of Time” The Kuwaiti Ministry of Information’s decision to cancel the play “Fi Zain al-Zaman,” which was scheduled to be shown on Eid al-Fitr, caused division on social media.

The play was written by Heba Mishari Hamada, and starred Hoda Hussein, Fatima Al-Safi, Laila Abdullah, and Hamad Ashkanani. The link between the decision to cancel the series and the play stems from the Ministry’s decision to stop people participating in artistic works offensive to society from participating in any artistic or theatrical production in Kuwait.

The production company issued a statement apologizing for showing the play “Zein Al-Zaman”: “With reference to the letter issued by the National Council for Culture, Arts and Letters on Sunday, April 7, 2024, addressed to the Joy Theater Production Company in its capacity as the company producing the theatrical work “In Zein Al-Zaman” regarding the lack of approval by the competent committee. “I had to authorize the play and show it to the public because the writer and some of the actors were referred to the Public Prosecution by the Ministry of Information against the backdrop of a television series that included an insult to the values and morals of Kuwaiti society.”

One wife is not enough series The Kuwaiti Ministry of Information had decided to refer the participants in the series “One Wife is Not Enough” to the prosecution for violating the values and morals of Kuwaiti society, and Rafi Al-Subaie, Assistant Undersecretary of the Ministry of Information for Press, Publications, Publishing and Broadcasting in the Ministry of Information, announced that everyone who participates in an artistic production will be banned. It offends Kuwaiti society to participate in artistic productions filmed in Kuwait or theatrical productions shown in Kuwait.

A number of actors are participating in the “One Wife Is Not Enough” tournament , including Fatima Al-Safi, Laila Abdullah, Lulwa Al-Mulla, Nour Al-Ghandour, Majed Al-Masry , Zain Julia, Ahmed Erag, Ayten Amer and others. It is directed by Ali Al-Ali and written by Heba Mishari Hamada.